Chris DiMeo (left), a program coordinator with NJ Helmets to Hardhats, talks with Navy veteran Charles Germershausen of Florham Park at a November job fair in Tonms River for military veterans.

Written by

| USA Today

Many businesses plan to bring on more part-time workers next year, trim the hours of full-timers or curtail hiring because of the new health care law, human resource firms say.

Their actions could further dampen job growth, which already is threatened by possible federal budget cutbacks resulting from the tax increases and spending cuts known as the fiscal cliff. "It will have a negative impact on job creation" in 2013, said Mark Zandi, chief economist of Moody's Analytics.

Under the Affordable Care Act, businesses that employ at least 50 full-time workers -- or the equivalent, including ...